A combination of staffers taking half term off, and three staff households having the Covid has led to a half-staffed Singletrack this week. Many of us have been pinged by the NHS app and have gone off for testing, and Hannah, despite being double jabbed,…
Boardman MTR 9.0 review
// intro // Pros Cons blah Overall blah Boardman MTR 9.0 specification Geometry of our L size Boardman’s MTR 9.0 is the company’s flagship mountain bike. No high-falutin’ DH or Enduro monster, this – the aim of the company is to produce perfect machines for…
2022 Giant Trance X is a 27.5 trail bike built for fun
27.5in isn’t dead and thanks to the new Giant Trance X it looks like it has an exciting life ahead! Giant has had a mixed relationship with 29in wheels, and although they now make plenty of big-wheeled bikes they haven’t turned their back on 27.5in…
Smith Engage Helmet Review: High-End Protection At A Low Cost?
Smith bolsters its helmet range with the Smith Engage, a price-conscious helmet with high-end features and protection. The Smith Engage, by eyewear and helmet brand Smith, was launched as a cheaper alternative to their top-end open face helmet – the Forefront 2 – which I’ve…
Specialized releases updated Gambit full face and Roost flat pedal shoes
If you like to ride the bike park or downhill parks in flats, then Specialized has 2 new updates tailored just for you. Specialized Roost – £110 The Roost are a new flat-pedal shoe designed for riders wanting that casual skate shoe look, but requiring…
Now there’s a Canyon Spectral for all the family!
27.5, 29, alloy, mullet and even kids bikes are all covered in the new and improved 2022 Canyon Spectral range. One Family, Any Trail In December last year, Canyon filled a sizable hole in their trail bike line up with the Spectral 29. The new…
Mondraker goes down country with the all-new Mondraker Raze
The Mondraker Raze is a 130mm travel trail bike designed for pedalling efficiency and rowdy downhill fun. Full disclosure, I only used the term ‘down country’ so that you would hit the link. If you’re reading this then thanks for not jumping to the comments…
5 Pro Bike Checks from Red Bull Rampage 2021
What tyres for… back flipping off a cliff, hitting the lilypad, then heading straight into a sui? Our man on the ground at the Red Bull Rampage practice days, Fahzure Freeride, talks suspension settings, contact points, and brake set up with five Rampage hopefuls. The…
First ride review 2022 Canyon Spectral CF 8 CLLCTV
The 2022 Canyon Spectral range received a massive update today, and James Vincent has been testing the mullet Spectral CF 8! Update! Canyon has just informed us that they’ve been working on their pricing and have managed to lower it on several models in the…
Do plants have feelings? Forum Thread Of The Week
The Best Forum Threads Now Get Prizes. The Singletrack Forum, both the “Chat” and “Bike” variations, are really remarkable bits of the interweb. Here you will find over 523,000 topics, with 8,670,000 replies covering everything from removing Sudocrem from a cat to “what tyres for not riding…
Photo Story: Red Bull Rampage
This story looks even better if you’re a Singletrack Member. To view it with larger images and without ads, check out the Members’ Edition. This year marked 20 years since the first Red Bull Rampage. Since the Singletrack staff were trapped on this side of…
Last Chance For Better Access To Dartmoor!
Dartmoor National Park is celebrating its 70th birthday this weekend, and with it comes the closure of its consultation on amendments to its byelaws. You should probably take the chance now to respond and help add your voice to calls for better access of bikes.…
Photo Story: Red Bull Rampage – Members’ Edition
This year marked 20 years since the first Red Bull Rampage. Since the Singletrack staff were trapped on this side of the ocean, we asked USA based photographer JP Gendron to capture the scenes for us. Grab yourself a big screen to make the most…
TotalMTB Charity Raffle: Win Stuff, Do Good
With almost £10,000 worth of prizes to be won, TotalMTB’s charity raffle might be the best £5 you spend today. Last year’s raffle raised £3,376 for mental health charity No Panic, but this year #TotalMTB is hoping to raise £5,000 to be shared equally between No…
Fresh Goods Friday 571 – The ‘Quick! It’s briefly sunny outside’ issue
It’s all got a bit ping-tastic up here, so some of us are diving outside and enjoying a bike ride while we can, others have their fingers crossed for half term holiday plans, and others are gazing longingly out the window at the forbidden world.…
Three Things Thursday? 3 Backpacks with spine protection
This might not be Three Things Thursday – it might be Tech Tuesday, or Whoop There’s New Kit Wednesday. Ideas welcome. But what this is, is a run through the features of some products with something in common. This week, it’s back packs with built…
Generations – An Excuse For A New Bike?
You needed an excuse to buy a dirt jump bike, didn’t you? Well, Kona is doing its best to give you one with this sentimental video: As we get older, our priorities change, time becomes fleeting, and we learn to take less for granted. Ambassador Tim…
How to buy a second hand mountain bike
Dieter is a bike mechanic at Happy Days Cycles in Sowerby Bridge, where he regularly revives donated bikes to sell to customers, or repairs customers’ bikes with parts retrieved from bikes that can’t be saved. He’s happy to get you rolling again without upselling you…
Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes – Leatt’s Quest To Protect Them All
This feature has been produced in association with Hotlines. Doctor! Doctor! I have double vision, I am seeing two of everything.Dr: “Take a seat on the chair there”Which one? OK, it’s probably not the best doctor doctor joke of the genre (personally, I like the…
E*13 Vario Dropper Post review – an adjustable dropper on the go!
The E*13 Vario dropper post offers smooth action and simple travel change in a durable package. The dropper post has been around for decades. Even before it became a must-have item for a modern mountain bike, the concept of the dropper post isn’t new. While…
Most Outstanding Human – The Finalists
We’re revealing the Finalists in each of the Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 categories. Thanks to all of you for your nominations, and to our awards sponsors, Kona Bicycles. Here’s who made the cut for the Most Outstanding Human. Whose work has really changed your point…
Gusset Slim Jim Nylon Pedals Review
The Gusset Slim Jim Nylon pedal is another composite flat pedal that proves you don’t need the latest CNC flats to get rowdy off-road. I remember buying my first ‘proper’ mountain bike. It was a Giant Boulder and I was pretty chuffed with it. I…
Best Use of Lockdown – The Finalists
We’re revealing the Finalists in each of the Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 categories. Thanks to all of you for your nominations, and to our awards sponsors, Kona Bicycles. Here’s who made the cut for the Best Use of Lockdown. Who made the most of the…
Best Brand Initiative – The Finalists
We’re revealing the Finalists in each of the Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 categories. Thanks to all of you for your nominations, and to our awards sponsors, Kona Bicycles. Here’s who made the cut for the Best Brand Initiative. Which brand has championed a cause for…
Best STW Article – The Finalists
We’re revealing the Finalists in each of the Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 categories. Thanks to all of you for your nominations, and to our awards sponsors, Kona Bicycles. Here’s who made the cut for the Best Singletrack World Article. Which article, published in our magazine…
Best UK Community Initiative – The Finalists
We’re revealing the Finalists in each of the Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 categories. Thanks to all of you for your nominations, and to our awards sponsors, Kona Bicycles. Here’s who made the cut for the Best UK Community Initiative. This award is about people. Who…
Bespoked 2021 – A Few Highlights – Now Go and Pick Your Own!
You can disagree with my choices or complain that I’ve missed something important, but I had a fairly briefly dash around Bespoked yesterday and these are the things that caught my eye and heart. Mostly, I wasn’t thinking about writing a story, I was just…
Best Singletrack World Image | Pick Your Winner
We’re revealing the Finalists in each of the Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 categories. Thanks to all of you for your nominations, and to our awards sponsors, Kona Bicycles. Here’s who made the cut for the Best Singletrack World Image. Some things don’t change, and Singletrack…
Best UK Environmental Initiative – The Finalists
We’re revealing the Finalists in each of the Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 categories. Thanks to all of you for your nominations, and to our awards sponsors, Kona Bicycles. Here’s who made the cut for the Best UK Environmental Initiative. This is about the ground beyond…
A Very Colourful Fresh Goods Friday 570
What joys will this weekend bring? Hopefully some clear skies, low winds and crunchy trails. If autumnal rides aren’t your bag, how about a duvet day with the latest issue of Singletrack World? Subscribers should have received the magazine by now, The One With Arguably…
Kit Essentials: Fancy Pants
Where once the knee sock reigned supreme, now the riding trouser has emerged as a seriously practical option. Here’s what the Singletrack Staff have been using. We’ve had a little sun, we’ve enjoyed a few days of dusty summer trails, but now the temperature is…
Únic Signature Pants Review
This review was part of the Singletrack World Issue 139 Kit Essentials Feature Tested by: Andi Price: €88.62 From: Unicwear.com Únic is a clothing manufacturer based out of Andorra with a factory in Poland. The company only produces clothing to order, and they’ll happily customise…
Showers Pass Refuge Waterproof Trousers
This review was part of the Singletrack World Issue 139 Kit Essentials Feature Tested by: Hannah Price: £185.00 From: Showerspass.co.uk These are not trousers for packing just in case. These are trousers for when the weather forecast says no, but circumstances insist that you ride.…
Best UK Trail Stewardship Initiative – The Finalists
We’re revealing the Finalists in each of the Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 categories. Thanks to all of you for your nominations, and to our awards sponsors, Kona Bicycles. Here’s who made the cut for the Best UK Trail Stewardship Initiative. This award is about the…
Giro Havoc Trousers Review
This review was part of the Singletrack World Issue 139 Kit Essentials Feature Tested by: Chipps Price: £119.99 From: Giro.co.uk Giro’s Havoc trousers are part of its surprisingly large clothing range (there’s a Havoc short and also a Havoc waterproof short). The trousers are made…
Fox Women’s Defend Kevlar Review
This review was part of the Singletrack World Issue 139 Kit Essentials Feature Tested by: Amanda Price: £145.00 From: Foxracing.co.uk These trousers are designed for extreme mountain biking, enduro and downhill riding. They feature Kevlar® reinforced knees for extra tear and scuff resistance where you’re…
Endura Women’s MT500 Spray Baggy Review
This review was part of the Singletrack World Issue 139 Kit Essentials Feature Tested by: Amanda (Modelled by Hannah)Price: £114.99 From: Endurasport.com The Endura MT500 trouser is designed to be a do-it-all solution for winter riding. They feature a waterproof and seam-taped seat panel, DWR…
Does New Trek Box Signal A Shift To Consumer Direct?
Eagle-eyed patent analyst Daniel Bacon of Wheelbased spotted this application from Trek for protection of a box design. With many brands looking carefully at packaging, at first glance you might think ‘so what?’. But as Daniel points out, this box transforms into a mini home…
UK Adventure: Wrongpacking At Helvellyn
Amanda, Rhys and James head up Helvellyn in an effort to see whether a stiff climb for tea and an enduro descent for breakfast is a recipe for fun. Words: Amanda Wishart Photos: James Vincent Bikepacking, touring, camping… it’s not a new activity, but it’s…
Access Rights: Be Nice, Say Hi, Ask Why
Recently, I’ve been thinking again about access rights. Previously I was definitely on the side of ‘ride legal, or keep it quiet if you’re not’. Now, I’m not so sure. Increasingly, I’m coming to the conclusion that access is a right, and that the proposals…
International Adventure: Kiwi Beervet
A point-to-point, 450km off-road adventure, joining together the finest remote New Zealand country pubs with great riding, great mates and a lot of beer. Words & Photos: Tony Hutcheson Kiwi Beervet is the product of too many midweek whisky sessions. Spitballing ideas with mates, a…
Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 – All The Finalists Revealed!
Thanks to all of you who submitted nominations to this year’s Singletrack Reader Awards, sponsored by Kona Bicycles. It’s been heartwarming to read all the nominations for all the projects and people who have made your mountain bike world a bit better this year, and…
A Closer Look At Trek’s Sustainability Report
Tom is a Climate Change and Green Infrastructure Officer, a mountain bike guide, Cytech mechanic, Greenpeace activist and holds a BSc in Outdoor and Environmental Education and MSc in Marine Environmental Protection. We asked him to take a closer look at Trek’s recent sustainability report.…
Two days until Bespoked #10 Opens!
Fancy yourself some shiny bike part gawking? Want to go and admire the finest in hand built bikes and accessories? It’s hard to imagine that the answer is ‘no’. All your bike drooling desires can be sated at Bespoked in Harrogate this weekend. Get your…
Kids Ride Shotgun Pro Seat review: smile maker
Effectively a mini extra seat that fixes to your bike's top tube, the Kids Ride Shotgun Pro means your kid can come mountain biking with you.
2022 Specialized Stumpy Evo Alloy boasts adjustable headset, BB height and mullet wheel compatibility!
Specialized announces details and pricing of the 2022 Stumpy Evo Alloy sporting a host of adjustable features. The longer, lower, slacker movement started in Europe and it took U.S brands a very long time before catching up, but once they did they went all in!…
Singletrack Reader Awards 2021 – Nominations and Deliberations
We’re excited about this year’s format for the Reader Awards and it seems you are too. Your nominations are in, so we sat down with Scott Belshaw from our Awards Sponsor, Kona Bikes, to have a chat about some of the names that have been…
2021 Down Hill Season Review – A Gripping Year!
We’ve asked George to take us back through the 2021 DH World Cup, letting us relive the highs and lows, the dramatic finale, and already turning our thoughts to what comes next year. Coming into the 2021 season, the women’s title race was the most…
Fizik Gravita Tensor flat shoe review: do your feet a favour
After trying and being very impressed with the Fizik Gravita flat shoe, Extra UK sent over the more gravity friendly Fizik Gravita Tensor for me to review. Editors’ Choice 2021 This product features in our Singletrackworld Editors’ Choice 2021 round-up. Andi: “I mentioned there were…
2022 YT Capra Core 4 29 Review – The GOAT returns but does it live up to the hype?
Forget the big-budget movie launches featuring Hollywood stars! What we want to know is does the 2022 YT Capra Core 4 29 live up to the hype? Think of YT, and most people will automatically think of the Capra – YT’s flagship long-travel enduro bike.…
Surly Dunoon Dirt Dash or Bramble Bash?
Photography by Markus Stitz “If you sort of straighten one of your legs, push the bike upwards at the same time and immediately apply both brakes, you might be able to put your foot on that rock next to your left arm, using the bike…